Robert p



R. P. ALLISON.

DISK WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 8. 1921.

Patented Sept. 12, 1922.,

Patented Sept. 12, 1922.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT IE. ALLISON, OF RICHMOND, 'VIRGINIA,

IDISK WHEEL.

o iginal application filed. February 3, 1919, Serial No. 274,719. Divided and this application filed October To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT P. ALLISON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city of Richmond, in the county of Henrico, State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Disk WVheels, of which the following is a specification.

This application is a division of my 00- pending application-Serial No. 274,719, filed February 3, 1919.

The demand for motor vehicle wheels has reduced the available supply of second growth hickory available for this purpose, to such an extent that it is no longer sufiicient, so that the quality of the wheels is deteriorating and the cost rapidly increasing. lVooden wheels, particularly those of the reduced quality now being made, are dangerous in that they are apt to collapse completely and instantaneously in response to unusual shocks, particularly those involving severe lateral stresses. The cost of wire wheels has largely increased and the product is not wholly satisfactory in that the spokes loosen with use and the wheels require more or less frequent readjustment.

Disk wheels have been used to some extent, but in the past have been found objectionable because of their extreme rigidity to lateral as well as radial stresses and their tendency to fail by crystallization.

The object of the present invention is to produce a sheet metal disk wheel for road vehicles with sufficient resiliency for satis factory operation and protection of the wheel and vehicle structure, the resiliency being comparable to that of the ordinary wire or Wooden wheel and in no wise related to that supposedly incident to so-called elastic wheels offered as a means for supplanting pneumatic tires. The present wheel isa substitute for an ordinary wire or wooden Wheel. The important ends accomplished by the invention are the production of a heel so designed as to prevent failure by crystallization by so arranging the material that it resists and at the same time is protected from harmful effects of the em cessive lateral stresses adjacent the hub and is free from the rigidity which is usually a characteristic of such wheels. Another Serial No. 506,226.

any appreciable amount of resistive capacity, that is, no considerable area of the disk is cut away to give access to the valve. The

wheel of the invention is not only safe and rehable but almost indestructible, low in cost, of pleasing appearance and easy to keep clean.

In the wheel constructed in accordance with the preferred form of the invention, the prlnclpal part of the load is resisted by a cross-section of material presented by the horizontal cross-section through the axis, transmitting the load from the hub to the run, the metal in this section acting in shear.

The curved peripheral portion or zone near the rim, while sufiiciently stron to maintain the correct shape of the wheel under normal conditions, permits suflicient momentary distortion in any direction to distribute the shock and prevent undue stress at any particular point. Near the hub where the greatest moment arms occur and where all lateral stresses are concentrated in a small area, and where the most frequent failure results, provision has been made by arrangement of the metal for the presentation of maximum resistance. To this end, in ad dition to constructing the wheel so that it has a considerable amount of resiliency adacent the rim, the material adjacent the hub is divided into two portions or plates which, though they meet and combine adjacent the resilient periphery, are secured to the hub at widely separated points of support. In other words, the stresses, particularly the lateral stresses are distributed in an elastic zone adjacent the rim and the material near the hub is preferably increased or reinforced to resist all stresses particularly those tending to cause lateral deflection, and, further, it is arrangedto offer the most effective resistance to vibration of the metal, making crystallization impossible.

The central portions are preferably conic sections meeting and secured together at their bases near the resilient periphery and having their small diameters secured to the hub at the opposite ends.

The comparatively resilient peripheral curve is a line of contact where two annular sectionsforming the inner portion of the disk meet and oin, and from which they diverge toward the hub, the inner periphery of each beinv secured to the corresponding I periphery of the hub, i. e., one toward the outer, the other inner axial end.

In the accompanyingdrawing I have illustrated a disk wheel embodying the various features of my invention, two slightly different forms being shown. In the drawings: v

Fi re 1' is a side elevation of the wheel,

i. e., ooking from the end of the axle toward structure illustrated, particularly in Figure the wheel Fi ure 2 isa radial section of one form of w eel,'and

Figure 3 is a corresponding radial section ofanother-form of slightly heavier construction. Q

Referring to the drawings by numerals, each of which is used to indicate the corresponding parts in the different figures, the

2, comprisesa principal disk 1 and a reinforcing (lisk 2, The principal disk 1 preferablyhas a central aperture 3 at the circumference'of which the material forming the disk is secured to the hub adjacent the outerend b suitable means, as riveting or spot-wel ing,the parts being preferably further bound byan encircling band or ring 5, the details being merely selective.

From the circumference of the central aperture'3, the principal disk 1, as it extends outward radially, is inclined backward toward the radial plane of the inner end of thehub, i. e., toward the central portion of the vehicle, forming a frustum of a cone, thesmall circumference of which is engaged by the binding ring 5,'the base or large circumference 7 being, in the instance illustrated, slightly beyond the plane of the inner face of the hub, or more properly the drum 6. Fromth'e large or base circumference 7 of the frustum or other inclined portion 9, tracing the plate outward toward the rim, the plate is swung in a curve 10 tending backward toward the radial plane of the opposite end'of the hub, the latter curve being swung about a circular axis concentric with the axis of the wheel. Viewing the section shown in Figure 2 and following the intersection of the plane of this figure with the principal plate 1, it will be noted that this line passes from curve 10 through the central plane of the wheel and then swings in a reverse curve 11 about a second circular axis concentric with the wheel and on a relativel small radius into the peripheral or cylindrical plane 12 parallel to and in contact with the rim 14. This rim 14, secured to the peripheral, c lindrical portion 12 by riveting, spot-weld ng or in any other suitable manner, is of any convenient type which may be selected.

The seconda or reinforcing disk 2 is most convenien y apertured at 15 to accom modate the type of hub, and an edge flan e 16 encircling the aperture is secured to tfie corresponding periphery of the hub by an suitable means as by riveting or a ot-wel ing at 17 to a peripheral flange 8 on the hub, the details being merely selective, following the intersection of this plate with the p ane of Figure 2, it extends toward the periphery of the wheel until it meets the base or large circumference of the incline or conic section 9 of the principal plate, at which point 7 it is shown in contact with the rincipal plate and to which it is preferab y fastened in any convenient manner as by rivetin or spot-welding at 19.

In the lig ter form of wheel shown in Figure 2, the reinforcin or secondary plate 2 terminates in a circum erence 20 in or near the curve 10, or is otherwise suitably spaced inward from the periphery of the principal plate 1, leaving a considerable curved section of the plate 1 of reduced thickness between the outer periphery of the plate 2 and the rim whereby comparatively greater resiliency is secured.

Figure 3 shows the heavier type of wheel in which the plates 1 and 2 are co-extensive, parallel in contact and preferably secured together throughout the curved peripheral section or zone 22.

It will be noted that in Figure 3 I have substituted for the riveted fastenings 4, 8, 19 and 29, spot-welding 4', 8, 29, and 19', respectively, but this substitution has no reference to the other differences in structure, the question of riveting, spot-welding or other fastening means being purely one of selection.

Having reference to the foregoin description and drawings, it is pointe out that the sheet metal disk structure described consists of prima and secondar or principal andreinforcing lates, bot secured to the periphery of the hub, one adjacent the outer and the other adjacent the inner end, from which ends they are led to a circle of contact adjacent the plane of the inner face of the rim where the are joined, extending outward from this circle of contact through a zone formed in corrugations concentric with the wheel. Preferably the reinforced portion is inclined. to the central plane oi rotation of the wheel and extends through it from a point on the hub spaced. Well on one side to the point of juncture oi the two parts of the dislr which is on the other side of the plane and the corrugations or $-bend eirtend on both sides of said plane.

I have thus described specifically and in detail two slightly different forms of dish. Wheel or more correctly spoke disir illustrating the application or the various features of my invention. The specific description is supplied to make the nature and the manner of utilizing the invention clear and not for the purpose of limiting the scope oi the protection which is sought.

What I claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is:

1. Means for supporting the hub of a wheel on the rim consisting; of a dish of sheet material having; an outer portion formed in a reverse curve on suhstantially circular axes concentric with the wheel, and a central lG GllIEOICGCl portion consisting of a plurality of members diverging from circumference adjacent said curve to points of juncture with the hub widely separated in the direction of the axis of the wheel.

2. Means for supporting the hub oi? a wheel consisting of sheet material. having peripheral corrugated portions substantially concentric with the wheel and extending on each side of the central plane of rotation of the wheel, and diverging members extending inward from the corrugations and secured to the hub at points widely spaced in the direction of its axis.

3. Means for supporting the hub of a Wheel consisting oil? sheet material. having: peripheral corrugated portions substantially concentric with the Wheel and entendin on each side of the central plane oi. rot. 1 oil. the wheel, and diverging members extending inward from the corrugations and secured to the hub at points widely spaced. in the direction oi its axis, the diverging members being inclined. at different angles but in the same general direction as related to the plane of rotation. of the Wheel one said memher having the greatest inclination extend from one end oil the hub through. the co tral plane of rotation to the base of the corrugated portion. Where it meets the other said diverging; member, the corrugations extending substantially equal distances on each side oi. the central plane.

4. A sheet metal Wheel dish consisting of a double irusto-conical central portion and a peripheral portion in the form of an S-bend.

5. A sheet metal wheel disk consisting oi a irusto-conical central portion extendu through the central plane of the tread and a tendin corrugations between the planes of the base and pealr circumferences of said. :trustuin. the small circuinierence of said ttiiustuni being secured. to the hub adjacent one end oi the wheel axis and reinforcing means radiat '1p from the hub and. soaced from said fru. uni, said reinforcing means i *usto-conical portion adjacent ations.

'i'. lllieans for supporting; a wheel hub on the rim, consisting oi sheet material secured to the hub near one axial end extending outward toward the rim with an inclination backward toward the other end of the hub which carries it well through and past the central plane oil. the tread oil the Wheel, and. a peripheral corrugated zone beyond. and joined to said inclined portion between the planes of rotation of the extremes oi said incline.

8. llleans for supporting a .rheel hub on the rim, consisting of sheet material secured to the hub near the one atrial end :dzending on 1rd toward the rim with an inclination lJiLCluVtUTCl toward the other end of the axis which carries it well through and past the central plane of the tread oi? the wheel, and a peripheral zone formed in reverse curve eyond and joined to said inclined portion and located between the planes of rotation of the extremes of said incline.

9. Means :tor supporting; a wheel hub on the rim consisting c1": sheet material secured to the hub near one atrial. end e1 ending outward toward the rim with an. recline bacln Ward toward the other end oi. the axis which carries well throuo'h and past the central plane of; the tree of the whceh and peripheral corrugated zone beyond and joined to said in inc portion between the planes of the extremes of said incline, said peripheral portion terminating in a cylindrical flange to be joined to the n.

10. ll spolre dislr elf sheet material l'iavinp; a deep corrugation near and substantially parallel to the rim and intersected by the central plane of the tread and. an inner inclined. portion. secured to the hub.

11. it. sheet metal wheel dish consisting of a ieriphcral portion in the form off all bend and :t'rusto-conical central portion, the base oi? the conical portion joining the bend, the central plane ct rotation elf the tread intersectin he lrusto-conical portion and the bend portion.

12. ill olrc dislr of sheet material formed with r dgcs parallel. to and adjacent the outer periphery, and a central inclined. portion.

joining the'ridged periphery adjacent the on each side of the central plane of the peak of one of the ridges. V tread.

, 13. A spoke disk of sheet material having Signed by me at Richmond, Virginia, this deep corrugations near and substantially 6th day of October 1921.

5 parallel to the periphery, and a central re- RBERT P. ALLISON.

inforced portion secured to the hub, the Witnesses: corrugations and the reinforced portion H. G. STUART, being distributed With substantial equality HUGH R. LEWIS. 

